sages are, however, to be found in this second book which recal the charm created by the first. The last strophes of it are consecrated to the memory of a friend, whom the poet had lost. It appears that Beattie was often destined to feel the weight of sorrows. The death of his only son affected him deeply and withdrew him entirely from the service of the Muses. He still lived on the rocks of Morven, but these rocks no longer inspired his song. Like Ossian, after the death of Oscar, he suspended his harp on the branches of an oak. It is said that his son evinced great poetical talents; perhaps he was the young minstrel, whom a father had feelingly described, and whose steps he too soon ceased to trace upon the summit of the mountain. ON THE ISLAND OF GRACIOZA, ONE OF THE AZORES. IN the spring of 1791 I made a voyage to America. Before the vessel, which conveyed me, reached her desti. nation, we were in want of water, as well as provisions; and finding ourselves near the Azores, resolved to touch there. Several priests were passengers in the same ship; they were emigrating to Baltimore, under the guidance of the superior St... M. N. Among these priests were some foreigners, particularly Mr. T... a young Englishman of an excellent family, who had lately become a convert to the Roman faith. The history of this youth is too singular not to be recorded, and will perhaps be more particularly interesting to the English reader. Mr. T... was the son of a Scotch woman and an English clergyman, who was, I believe, the rector of W. though I have in vain tried to find him, and may possibly have forgotten the right names. The son served in the artillery, and would no doubt have soon been distinguished by his merit. He was a painter, a musician, a mathematician and master of several languages. He united with the advantages of a tall and elegant person the talents which are useful, and those which make us court the society of their possessor. |